***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Woodster]

I appear one of the few that hopes England stick with Bopara, not that I doubt Shah's credentials. Shah's technique is somewhat orthodox with so much bottom hand involved and I think in terms of all round technique Bopara has the edge. His bowling is a little innocuous but a handy alternative who can ensure England peg Sri Lanka back (if need be) with a few tidy overs of medium pace.

But the big question is with the batting, and yes I can understand people wanting Shah in for his experience and he is probably deserving of a decent run in the side, but I still believe Bopara will be the better batsman (I know thats not currently the point, but I don't think there's a great deal of difference now between the two). Bopara's bowling is a bonus, nothing more, but he deserves more credit for his skills as a specialist batsman. IMO if you have two batsmen of similar quality, yet one who is a better bowler and fielder then it is no question who you opt for. Naturally some of you hold Shah in much higher esteem than Bopara, fair enough.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I think we should stick with Bopara now we gave him the nod, but I would've gone for Shah initially as I think he's a pretty good player of spin. Which, obviously, is pretty crucial in SL.

Noises coming from England suggest 3 seamers again, which would be a mistake for mine, but what do I know?

 

[Richard]

I appear one of the few that hopes England stick with Bopara, not that I doubt Shah's credentials. Shah's technique is somewhat orthodox with so much bottom hand involved and I think in terms of all round technique Bopara has the edge. His bowling is a little innocuous but a handy alternative who can ensure England peg Sri Lanka back (if need be) with a few tidy overs of medium pace.

But the big question is with the batting, and yes I can understand people wanting Shah in for his experience and he is probably deserving of a decent run in the side, but I still believe Bopara will be the better batsman (I know thats not currently the point, but I don't think there's a great deal of difference now between the two). Bopara's bowling is a bonus, nothing more, but he deserves more credit for his skills as a specialist batsman. IMO if you have two batsmen of similar quality, yet one who is a better bowler and fielder then it is no question who you opt for. Naturally some of you hold Shah in much higher esteem than Bopara, fair enough.

I'm very much in favour of picking Bopara this Test, though I wasn't in the last, purely because you'll never get far if you make a line-call on two players then reverse it after a single game. Now they've picked Bopara once, they need to give him at least 1 more game, if not the entire series, to make some impression.

If he goes poorly, then Shah should definately come back in for the New Zealand leg.

Though it sounds worrying if Broad is in line ahead of Swann. That'd be two players making Test debuts who shouldn't have, and one who should have who hasn't. Whoever said England hand-out caps like sweets has something of a point on this tour.

EDIT: Dale's just said near enough everything I have in a few less words...

 

[Woodster]

I agree that once a decision has been made then that particular player needs time to prove his selection was the correct one. However, three Tests in Sri Lanka is hardly giving a player time to prove his case, although Owais Shah has unfortunately been on the end of this also.

 

[NUFAN]

I'm very much in favour of picking Bopara this Test, though I wasn't in the last, purely because you'll never get far if you make a line-call on two players then reverse it after a single game. Now they've picked Bopara once, they need to give him at least 1 more game, if not the entire series, to make some impression.

If he goes poorly, then Shah should definately come back in for the New Zealand leg.

Though it sounds worrying if Broad is in line ahead of Swann. That'd be two players making Test debuts who shouldn't have, and one who should have who hasn't. Whoever said England hand-out caps like sweets has something of a point on this tour.

EDIT: Dale's just said near enough everything I have in a few less words...

Thank you very much for the link, that was a lot easier then to look up at the post above!

I would pick Shah. I think you can swap players because the team lost and need to win.

Even if it ends up being 2 pace 2 spinners, Colly can be the 3rd seam bowler. There isn't any need for Bopara's bowling.

SL should pick a 2nd spinner also IMO. or Black Magic Samareewa instead of a hack like Mubarak.

 

[Evermind]

There're three players England need to neutralise: Murali, Sangakkara and Jayawardane. If they manage to get through Murali and get the two batsmen out cheaply, there's a very good chance of them doing well.

England is overall a much better team than SL, but they simply don't have a bowler of Murali's calibre or a batsman with Sangakkara's current consistency.

 

[Silver Arrow]

James Anderson misses out which hands Stuart Broad his debut. Steve Harmison returns for his first Test since playing the West Indies in June.

 

[tooextracool]

There're three players England need to neutralise: Murali, Sangakkara and Jayawardane. If they manage to get through Murali and get the two batsmen out cheaply, there's a very good chance of them doing well.

England is overall a much better team than SL, but they simply don't have a bowler of Murali's calibre or a batsman with Sangakkara's current consistency.

England is not a better team because their bowling is for all intents and purposes absolutely hopeless. I do not expect Sidebottom, Anderson and Harmison to get 20 wickets at the SSC and if Monty Panesar bowls like he did in the last game, I dont expect much from him either. I think the bottom line here is that England's best currently fit fast bowler(considering Hoggard is injured) is playing in India with the academy at the moment, I do not expect this to change unless we see uncharacteristic conditions or a green wicket in Colombo.

I do agree that England's batting is better than SL's though

 

[Richard]

James Anderson misses out which hands Stuart Broad his debut. Steve Harmison returns for his first Test since playing the West Indies in June.

Indeed, and tec returns too.

Disappointed at Broad being picked ahead of Swann TBH but we'll see.

 

[Silver Arrow]

Vaughan has won the toss and elected to bat, a rare success with the coin for Michael Vaughan

 

[tooextracool]

James Anderson misses out which hands Stuart Broad his debut. Steve Harmison returns for his first Test since playing the West Indies in June.

Not sure what the point is of 3 pace bowlers and 2 part time medium pacers at the SSC tbh. Would have picked Swann, but then again expecting the English management to make a right selection decision has always been too much to ask for.

 

[tooextracool]

Indeed, and tec returns too.

Thanks mate for the birthday wishes, although you are about 12 days too early for that. What gave you the idea that it was my birthday?

 

[Silver Arrow]

Jayasuriya has barely put his whites away and he has a microphone in hand helping with the pitch report

 

[chaminda_00]

Jayasuriya has barely put his whites away and he has a microphone in hand helping with the pitch report

First Arnold now Jayasuriya. Will we finally see the end of Fernando behind the mic. One can only dream. Was hoping Sri Lanka batted first so I could see Tharanga bat, oh well. Hopefully he is batting by the end of the day.

 

[Lostman]

WTF fernando is back, both fernando's...

 

[tooextracool]

How did Matthew Prior play? I'm not a big fan, but I felt some of the criticism he was receving was overly harsh. Got a good score in the second innings, but how was his keeping?

Matthew Prior is and always has been an excellent player of spin bowling. That has been evident since he scored runs on the several A tours to the subcontinent. What is also evident is that he has a decent temperament, but a wholly ordinary technique against pace. To point an obvious flaw, he drives away from his body with his head and body upright. Such a flaw might not really be exposed on the dustbowls in SL, but they whether they will be in NZ is another question altogether. On the basis of his inning in SL, i expect him to be a far better batsman than Read and Jones combined but that does not say much at all. For mine, Jones has to have possessed one of the shot selections that i have ever seen.

 

[Richard]

Thanks mate for the birthday wishes, although you are about 12 days too early for that. What gave you the idea that it was my birthday?

Dunno what's come over me TBH, this 4AM lark must be addling my brains. Fortunately checked and edited the darn thing. You share your birthday with FRAZ too.

 

[Richard]

First Arnold now Jayasuriya. Will we finally see the end of Fernando behind the mic.

Hope Jayasuriya might make a decent commentator TBH, always struck me as the right sort. Why isn't Arnold doing the Tests BTW does anyone know? Did a good job in the ODIs.

 

[chaminda_00]

Hope Jayasuriya might make a decent commentator TBH, always struck me as the right sort. Why isn't Arnold doing the Tests BTW does anyone know? Did a good job in the ODIs.

Playing in ICL.

 

[Richard]

Ah, is he? Fair play then.

Plenty of swing in these opening deliveries for Vaas, don't they always say SSC is a good swinging ground with a new-ball?